Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) serves as an alternative food crop to rice in addressing food shortages and malnutrition. Breeding programs aimed at increasing yield and biofortification in sorghum require accessions with superior agronomic traits, as well as high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) contents. This study sought to assess the variation in agronomic characteristics and Fe and Zn contents among Indonesian sorghum germplasm. The genetic materials evaluated consisted of 20 IPB breeding lines, six introduced accessions, five local varieties, and seven national varieties arranged in an augmented design. The observed traits included agronomic characters and grain micronutrient contents (Fe and Zn). Leaf number, green leaf index, days to flowering and maturity, panicle weight, and thousand-seed weight exhibited high heritability. Fe content showed the highest broad-sense heritability, whereas Zn content displayed relatively low variation and heritability. All observed traits, except green leaf index and panicle length, revealed a positive correlation with seed weight per panicle. Fe and Zn contents indicated nonsignificant correlations with panicle weight and seed weight per panicle. Based on mean values and heritability estimates, promising germplasm for further development includes national varieties for yield improvement and local varieties for biofortification purposes.

Keywords: Sorghum (S. bicolor L.), biofortification, Fe and Zn, germplasm, Pearson’s correlation, XRF

Key findings: Among 38 Indonesian sorghum (S. bicolor L.) germplasm evaluated, the local variety Pulut-3 exhibited the highest seed iron (Fe) content, reaching 54.5 ppm. This trait shows very high broad-sense heritability and a significant positive correlation with seed zinc (Zn) content. This genotype holds strong potential for further biofortification efforts aimed at enhancing micronutrient concentrations.

By planting winter wheat over an alfalfa layer in the favorably moistened crop season of 2024, the best productive and yield-related traits were remarkable with the traditional cultivation technology. Data showed better results for the number of plants (298.4 m²), productive tillering (1.2), ear length (9.9 cm), grains per ear (28.3), and 1000-grain weight (44.4 g) compared with minimal soil cultivation and cutting the root collar of alfalfa at depths of 12–14 cm. The productive elements were 284.2 m², 1.1, 9.5 cm, 28.0, and 44.1 g, respectively. The winter wheat grain-yield formation was 3.4 and 3.22 t/ha, respectively. In the extremely dry year of 2025, the highest number of surviving plants per unit area was 251 m², with productive tillering (0.83), ear length (8.7 cm), the number of grains (17.9), and 1000-grain weight (28.4 g) obtained through direct sowing of winter wheat after safflower. In the dry year, the maximum productivity (1.5 t/ha) resulted from direct seeding.

Keywords: Winter wheat, safflower, alfalfa, traditional technology, minimum tillage, direct seeding, crop rotation, yield, mineral fertilizers, herbicide

Key findings: By planting winter wheat on the alfalfa layer using traditional technology, it obtained the highest grain yield (3.4 t/ha) compared with wheat sowing by direct seeding after safflower (3.05 t/ha).

The Indonesian garlic (Allium sativum L.), with small bulbs and cloves, requires improvement. Mutation breeding offers a valuable approach for inducing variability in vegetatively propagated crops. This study aimed to determine the LD₅₀ and assess the morphological responses of two garlic cultivars, Sangga Sembalun and Lumbu Putih, to gamma rays, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), and colchicine for identifying effective mutagens for bulbs and cloves’ improvement. Gamma rays applied were 0, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 Gy, while EMS and colchicine rates were at 0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%. Both cultivars differed in germination and growth under mutagenic treatments, with LD₅₀ values of 9.54 and 11.35 Gy (gamma), 1.19% and 0.67% (EMS), and 1.25% and 3.58% (colchicine) for Sangga Sembalun and Lumbu Putih, respectively. Foliage color was the most responsive trait. Gamma irradiation caused the greatest growth suppression, whereas EMS and colchicine treatments enhanced bulb and clove size by 8.35% and 36.4%, respectively. Putative mutants predominantly appeared at the LD₅₀ level and served as key genetic resources for developing superior Indonesian garlic cultivars.

Keywords: Indonesian garlic (A. sativum L.), genetic variability, mutation breeding, physical mutagens, chemical mutagens, LD₅₀

Key findings: For garlic (A. sativum L.) mutagenesis, the LD₅₀ of gamma rays, EMS, and colchicine has succeeded in their determination as the optimal dose to generate the genetic variability. The breeding material comprising garlic mutants can be applicable to developing superior cultivars.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is a tropical plant that originated in South America and later spread to Africa and Asia, including Indonesia. Sulawesi Island in Indonesia is one of the primary production centers of cashew nuts. The insufficient superior planting material is one of the major hindrances in developing cashew nut production in Indonesia. Therefore, the presented research aimed to explore and identify the diversity and kinship of cashew nuts on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. For cashew characterization and identification, the morphological traits and molecular analysis employed the inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) method. Data analysis on morphological traits phenetically also used the unweighted pair group method (UPGMA) in the multivariate statistical package (MVSP) programs. Polymorphic allele data obtained from ISSRs incurred assessment using the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) with the GenAlEx ver. 6.5 program. The results revealed genetic diversity among cashew populations, and some populations exhibited higher heterozygosity and diversity indices. The clustering pattern disclosed the considerable relationship between specific populations, while others appear isolated, demonstrating genetic divergence resulting from geographical isolation and environmental adaptation. This discovery underscores the importance of conserving populations with high genetic diversity as a potential resource for future breeding.

Keywords: Cashew (A. occidentale L.), genetic diversity, morphology, molecular analysis, ISSR

Key findings: The results provided a clear understanding of the genetic diversity of cashew (A. occidentale L.) genotypes in Indonesia and provide a scientific basis for future conservation policies and the development of superior cashew cultivars.

Leguminous plants belong to the family Fabaceae and play a crucial role in human nutrition and agriculture due to their high-protein content and nitrogen-fixing ability. This study aimed to evaluate the amino acid composition of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes grown under standard agronomic conditions. The analysis of variance revealed significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences among the 46 lentil and 15 common bean genotypes for yield-related traits. The results disclosed that 21.7% of the lentil genotypes were high-yielding, 45.7% were medium-yielding, and 32.6% were low-yielding. In common beans, 33.3% of the genotypes were high-yielding, 26.7% were medium-yielding, and 40% were low-yielding. The results provided a tangible basis for forming core and trait collections from the national gene fund, supporting breeding programs aimed at improving protein quality and essential amino acid profiles in lentils and common beans.

Keywords: Lentil (L. culinaris L.), common bean (P. vulgaris L.), yield potential, yield-related traits, breeding

Key findings: Significant genetic diversity was evident among the lentil (L. culinaris L.) and common bean (P. vulgaris L.) genotypes for both quantitative and qualitative traits. This diversity represents an important resource for plant breeders, offering opportunities to enhance the protein content and nutritional quality through targeted breeding strategies.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) with increased resistance to bacterial leaf blight can play a vital role in maintaining stable rice production with reduced economic losses and improved food security. This study aimed to evaluate the Mentik Susu rice mutant T1 generation resulting from gene editing, focusing on molecular and phenotypic characteristics. The selected T0 mutant seeds entailed planting and observation for molecular and phenotypic analyses. Molecular analysis through PCR helped detect the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) and Cas9 genes and further sequenced target genes to identify the mutation. The phenotypic analysis comprised observations on plant height, panicle length, total tiller number, and flowering age. In the T1 generation, no detection of hptII and Cas9 genes occurred, indicating that rice strains had undergone mutation without carrying the transgene. Sequencing analysis identified mutations in several mutant rice strains in the OsSWEET11 promoter. Nine mutant rice strains experienced mutations, eight strains mutated by substitution, and one mutant strain mutated by substitution and insertion. On phenotypes, the T1 mutant rice strains showed more tillers and longer panicle length than the wild-type rice strains. In continuing the said research, further analysis based on phenotypic variations, mutation stability, and tests on bacterial leaf blight resistance is essential.

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), genome editing, mutation, SWEET11, molecular and phenotypic characteristics, bacterial leaf blight resistance, morphological and yield traits

Key findings: Using the CRISPR/Cas9 method in rice (O. sativa L.), mutant rice strains appeared in the SWEET11 promoter region, undergoing studies for molecular and phenotypic characteristics.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. The Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), transmitted by the whitefly crinivirus (family Closteroviridae), causes severe interveinal chlorosis, yellowing of leaves, and reduced tomato yields. This study took place to identify and molecularly characterize the ToCV affecting greenhouse tomato varieties in the Tashkent Region of Uzbekistan. Field studies commenced in September 2024 at three greenhouse farms located in the Gazalkent, Kibray, and Chinoz districts. Leaf samples with disease symptoms totaled 90 (30 samples each from the Cherry, Buran F1, and Alamina F1 varieties), as collected from a total cultivation area of 0.6 hectares. Symptoms included interveinal chlorosis, leaf curling, brittleness, and stunted growth. Symptoms detection appeared on the lower leaves of tomatoes. Monitoring showed 10%–36% of tomatoes sustained infection with a viral disease caused by ToCV. The application of mechanical inoculation confirmed viral infectivity. Molecular identification via RT-PCR used specific primers ToCV_F1 (5′-GAAGAGGAGTTCGAGAAGATACTC-3′) and ToCV_R1 (5′-GCCGGTACCAACCATGGCT-3′), targeting a 378 bp fragment of the coat protein gene. Electrophoresis analysis of PСR products has succeeded on 1.5% agarose gel. This study provides the first molecular evidence of the presence of ToCV in Uzbekistan, laying the foundation for future epidemiological studies and breeding programs.

Keywords: Tomato (S. lycopersicum L.), cultivars and hybrids, tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), virus identification, molecular characterization, RT-PCR, RNA

Key findings: Molecular characterization confirmed the ToCV in the studied virus samples of the tomato cultivars and hybrids in Uzbekistan.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed crop, valued for its high-quality edible oil and protein-rich byproducts. Its economic and agricultural significance continues to grow due to increasing demand for vegetable oil and renewable resources worldwide. The following research provides a comprehensive analysis of sunflower biology, agronomy, and genetics, emphasizing traits crucial for its sustainable crop production. The description of sunflower taxonomy, classification, and morpho-biological features succeeded in highlighting its structural diversity and adaptability to diverse agroecological zones. Physiological and agronomic traits, such as growth dynamics, yield potential, and oil composition, attained examination in interaction with environmental factors and cultivation practices. Special attention focused on the sunflower’s resistance to major pests and diseases influencing global production. Furthermore, the study reviewed the genetic resources and molecular seed production tools, including marker-assisted selection and genomic mapping, which accelerate the development of improved cultivars with higher yield, better oil quality, and enhanced stress tolerance. The summary of data from national and international genetic collections resulted in tabular form. The findings underline the importance of integrating classical selection with molecular approaches to meet the challenges based on climate change and sustainable agricultural development.

Keywords: Sunflower (H. annuus L.), genetics, morphology, physiology, resistance, stress, seed production, molecular markers

Key findings: The study confirmed the substantial genetic and morphological diversity in the regional and global sunflower (H. annuus L.) collections, providing valuable resources for seed production. The integration of molecular markers and genomic technologies has considerably accelerated the identification of desirable traits, enabling the development of improved sunflower cultivars with enhanced yield, oil quality, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

This study aimed to determine the genetic behavior of three parental cultivars and their six F1 hybrids obtained through full-diallel crosses in cucumber. Variance components, broad-sense heritability, and genotypic, phenotypic, and environmental correlation coefficients underwent estimations for yield-related traits. The results revealed genotypic and phenotypic variances exceeded environmental variance for the studied traits. Broad-sense heritability estimates were high for most traits, indicating a significant genetic influence in trait expression. In the correlation analysis, total yield revealed significant positive genotypic association with early yield per plant (r = 0.642) and branches per plant (r = 0.432). In contrast, the total yield enunciated a notable negative correlation with fruit diameter (r = –0.393) and crust thickness (r = –0.404). Phenotypic correlation mirrored genotypic trends, especially between the total yield and early yield per plant (r = 0.642). In environmental correlation, the number of branches displayed a remarkable positive relationship with dry weight (r = 0.459) and harvest date (r = 0.422). Dry weight also showed a considerable positive correlation with crust thickness (r = 0.575). Additionally, the fruit diameter expressed a positive correlation with total yield (r = 0.551), and peel thickness had a highly significant positive correlation with early yield (r = 0.795).

Keywords: Cucumber (C. sativus L.), cultivars, diallel crosses, variance components, heritability, genotypic and phenotypic correlations, yield-related traits

Key findings: The study showed genotypic and phenotypic variances exceeded environmental variance for the yield-related traits in cucumber cultivars and their diallel F1 hybrids. According to the correlation analysis, a significant positive genotypic association appeared between total yield and early yield per plant.

Pigmented rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes are popular for their nutritional and functional benefits; however, exploring their genetic diversity has not received attention in Indonesia. The following study aimed to assess the genetic variation in 15 pigmented rice accessions from East and North Kalimantan using chloroplast DNA barcoding (matK and rbcL) and nuclear inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. DNA barcoding revealed no nucleotide polymorphisms, suggesting a common ancestry for rice accessions. The chloroplast genes appeared unsuitable for distinguishing closely related cultivars with the same genetic backgrounds. In contrast, ISSR analysis disclosed substantial nuclear genomic diversity. Eleven primers generated polymorphic profiles that grouped the rice accessions into four distinct clusters based on the 70% genetic similarity threshold. Group I included 10 cultivars from overlapping agroecological regions, while Groups II–IV contained genetically distinct accessions, including a divergent red rice cultivar from Setulang, Indonesia. The results underscore the effectiveness of ISSR markers in detecting intraspecific variation and highlight the genetic richness of pigmented rice. The study highlighted the significant genetic diversity in these pigmented rice cultivars, offering insights for conservation strategies and the development of superior cultivars through breeding programs.

Keywords: Pigmented rice (O. sativa L.), genetic variation, DNA barcoding, genomic analysis, ISSR

Key findings: Chloroplast DNA barcoding using matK and rbcL genes revealed no detectable genetic variation among the pigmented rice (O. sativa L.) accessions. However, ISSR markers detected substantial genomic polymorphism, and highlighting their potential for further improvement through breeding programs.